“That's not who we are in Nashua,” said city Alderman Tom Lopez. “We are a welcoming community and we care for our neighbors.”

Officials said a rock was thrown through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Nashua Sunday night, just missing a person inside who was attending a service.

People had just started to gather for the 8:30 p.m. service when the rock crashed through the window.

"It was lighted up completely, and people were seated right beside the window," said Muhammad Akbar of the Islamic Society of Greater Nashua.

The rock broke a window that had an electronic sign on it advertising the mosque. One person inside said he thought a light bulb had fallen, and he had shattered glass on his shoulder.

Three people were seen running away from the area. Police said it might not be an isolated incident. Twenty minutes earlier, a 911 caller reported seeing three juveniles throwing rocks at the city's Mine Falls Park sign.

"That sign and that trailhead are in the general area, almost like in the parking lot area of where the mosque is at 5 Pine St. Extension," Lt. Craig Allard said.

The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations said the mosque vandalism should be investigated as a hate crime.

"Due to its occurring on Sept. 11 and it being a mosque, that is definitely something we can look at," Allard said.

"I don't know if it is a coincidence, because I have never had this before, so I am thinking this is 9/11, and those guys who were walking by," Akbar said. "They had something come up in their mind, and they threw it."

Nashua police are asking anyone with information about the vandalism to call them at 603-594-3500.